By Dawn McNutt
Special to THE DAILY

I should begin by saying I love cookbooks. They are everywhere in my house: on my nightstand, lying across the coffee table, on the deck by the hammock and, of course, in the kitchen where they belong. I read each one like a great novel and I must confess I am just as happy to spend the afternoon with Emeril as I am Hemmingway.

With that said, I naturally assumed I owned just about every type of cookbook available. I was wrong. “Tapas” by Penelope Casas is a wonderful cookbook that celebrates “the little dishes of Spain.”

Think of the instant gratification of an appetizer but the satisfaction of a meal and you have tapas.

Tapas originated in Spain, where lunch is usually eaten between 2 and 3 in the afternoon and dinner somewhere around 9 p.m.

Because of this, tapas were created to fill the void between the larger meals. Before long, tapas bars were popping up all over Spain and people were devouring everything from spicy chorizo sausage to marinated monkfish, while having fun with friends and family in casual settings and enjoying their food and drink.

This way of eating became a lifestyle all across the country and soon became a success here in America.

People soon discovered tapas were easy to prepare, offered a wide variety of ingredients and were guaranteed to please even the most discriminating palate due to their versatility.

It soon became “hip” to have tapas parties or meet at a tapas bar after work before going home.

Tapas became one of the prominent menu selections offered at most Spanish cuisine restaurants in major cities across the country, as consumers were discovering that several small and tasty dishes could be just as satisfying as three large meals.

Spanish cuisine, with its emphasis on fresh herbs, seafood and vegetables, is easily adapted into American culture and the recipes included in this book are simply scrumptious. “Tapas” is divided into four chapters: Tapas in sauce; Marinades, Pates, Salads and other Cold Tapas; Tapas with Bread or Pastry; and Tapas with some last-minute preparations.

Each of the chapters contains 50 to 80 recipes guaranteed to make your mouth water and no doubt leave you with ideas of your own tapas parties or what to serve at your next cookout (everyone gets tired of hamburgers and hotdogs).

Dishes such as Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Cheese and Truffle Omelet and Chicken Teriyaki are some of the incredible selections offered throughout this book, which is sure to be a great addition to anyone’s cookbook collection.

This book was originally published more than 20 years ago. The updated anniversary edition has 50 new recipes and eight additional pages of color photographs.

If you’re like me, you want to see how the dishes are really supposed to look as opposed to what you’ve turned out on your own.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys simple, fresh food that tastes great and is easy to prepare.

It would also make a great gift for your favorite “foodie” or friend who is looking for something a little out of the ordinary this summer.

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